It was Hyde’s first success after finishing runner-up in his three previous races this season.

Hyde, who will feature for the Surrey schools team in the English Schools Championships in Derbyshire next month, also took the overall league title for his age group and was presented with a gift voucher as his reward.

His victory, following his third place in the Surrey Schools Cross Country Championships at Reigate the previous weekend, will boost his chances of being included in the Surrey County team to compete in the UK Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in Birmingham next month.

With Matthew Gibbons (ninth, 17:12), Alex Bond (15th, 19:51), Dominic Howe (17th, 20:34) and Robert Howe 18th in 21:53, the Hercules Wimbledon team finished third in the division’s final standings.

Hyde also took the overall league title for his age group and was presented with a gift voucher as his reward. With Matthew Gibbons, ninth in 17:12, Alex Bond 15th in 19:51, Dominic Howe 17th in 20:34 and Robert Howe 17th in 21:53, Hercules Wimbledon were third in the team event.

Another Hercules Wimbledon runner to take an overall league title for the season was Jonathan Cornish, who won himself a £50 gift voucher in taking the U20 title.

After finishing top U20 runner in his previous three appearances this season, Roehampton University student Cornish had to settle for the runner-up spot in the age category behind his Hercules Wimbledon clubmate Liam White, who was competing in the Surrey League for the first time this winter.